We Americans like to romanticize flawed leaders from the past, tend to forget their shortcomings as time goes on - presidents are the best example.

While Crandall was quite prolific, the reality is that he and other AMR chairmen since have made some TERRIBLE decisions along the way (not pursuing the Asia market), most importantly: believing they would be the only legacy airline that could change its structure without a trip through BK7. Despite the best of intentions, this is the primary cause of the current toxic labor relations, Crandall chose to retire, as he too could not find another solution.

I do not know Horton well enough to judge him as a leader, it may be a bit too early to do so, but the truth is that under his leadership, AMR was able to negotiate contracts with pilots and FAs, implement a growth plan that appears financially viable, maintains more of its premium service culture - unlike its mega-merger competitors.